The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-05
CURTIS ON STATE CoMPAcTs.

George Ticknor Curtis paper in the
November forum, "Shan Utah become
a Sta e?" is not as forcible and convinc,
s ing as the able author might have made
it. W. he presents several clear and
Illogical arguments in the affirmative. 1t
lis to be regretted that he did not go
more thoroughly into the subject.
There is one proposition, however,
moon which he asserts himself with
Au emphasis which should quiet the
bowls of the enemies to the Statehood
scheme. It is charged that the Mormons
yere dishonest and insincere in formu-
ating ana ratifying Constitution for
Kidding polygamy. No one has any
nore right to charge insincerity as to
hat clause than as to any other in the
Instrument. tits held by some that the
roviso to the anti-polygamy section
ecIsring that the section shall not be
mended, revised, or in any way
banged until any amendment, revision
change as proposed therein shall, in
iditlon to the requirements Of
e provisions of this article be
ported to the Congress of the
nited States and shall be by
bngress approved and ratified, and
CHI approval and ratification be pro-
aimed by the President OF the
aited States, and If not so ratified and
ocIanned said section shall remain
rpetua1, ;" will be Intellectual; that the
j. .te cannot bind itself as proposed,
that the people could abolish the
Dvision at will, regardless of the
emn compact Mr.. Curtis touches
On this matter, and what he says is
/ oortsnt, from the fact that he is re-
nized as one of the ablest and
st conscientious authorities on
Institutional law. 1t may, and
btIess will be changed that he is
i for expressing the opinion that he
S, but such contemplate allegation
bit to count for nothing. A lawyer
aid for his services, but he does not,
money, give opinions contrary to
own judgment and knowledge.
t Is to say, lawyer of Mr.. Curtis
ltation does not do thig. As to the
er to make the compact which the
itory has sought to make with the
on, Mr.. Curtis says:
m not unaware OF the depth and mag
lie of the constitutional question which
ri g on these provisions. But after tul!
trust, dispassionate study, am pre-
b TO express my entire conviction that
perfectly competent to a State. espec-
to new State, when 1t enters the
M. TO make q compact with the United
that will effectually limit its own
eignty in 8 matter peculiar to itself
Its social condition. Within the limits
Is article cannot develop the grounds
s conviction l must content myself
saving here, that every State in the
ID has in many ways limited Its SOW
5aty by compaGts with the United
and that in my belief, It will be
perfe city practicable and easy for the
al Government, in any case where
kunde-takes to do what it has sOlemnly
saneed not 10 do, 10 provide and en-
the needful remedy; not by taking
81 against the State Itself, IN It's poHtlcaI
- 1rpOrate character. but by preventing
~ daals from aysiling themselves of the
privilege of doing that which their
has covenanted shall not be done.
in this matter of pOlygamy. II the PEG
Utah, after they nave entered the
under the proposed Constitution,
undertake, in any way, 70 create or
Eize a legal or constitutional status OF
marriage without the consent OF Con
81 the Federal Government Will have no
Ity in counteracting hat attempt and
ling it utterly nugatory-